Mike Birbiglia’s Fundraiser for YMCA Draws Judd Apatow and Nick Kroll
Mike Birbiglia swam on over to Largo in Los Angeles on Monday night to host a special fundraiser with some help from his celebrity friends.
The multi-hyphenate and stand-up star, currently Emmy-nominated for writing his latest special, The Old Man and the Pool, fronted the event Mike Birbiglia and Friends which raised nearly $20,000 for YMCA of Greater New York. Who needs a punchline when the recipient of the Birbiglia’s goodwill alone might make some double over. His critically-acclaimed special, which was performed on Broadway and filmed as a special for Netflix, features many jokes about his time at the YMCA, it’s “over-chlorinated pool,” and how it ultimately changed his life. There’s also a joke about the plethora of penises in the locker room, but that’s beside the point.
Joining Birbiglia were Judd Apatow, Nick Kroll, Larry Wilmore, Atsuko Okatsuka and Billy Strings, who performed for the audience ahead of his big show this weekend at L.A.’s Kia Forum. Strings’ new album, Highway Prayers, is out Sept. 27. Other notable guests at Birbiglia and Friends included Zooey Deschanel and fiancé Jonathan Scott.
Birbiglia is also raising funds for the YMCA with a Charitybuzz auction featuring his original notecards from writing The Old Man and the Pool. Even Apatow got in on the auction action by placing several bids though at press time, he was being outbid by several hundred dollars with a week left before it closes.
